Ratchet relay



C. E. DELANEY ,RATCHET RELAY Dec. 2, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet ll Filed Jan. 23, 1968 INVENTOR.

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mmwm w MM 5. M w W E A c m 3,481,212 RATCHET RELAY Charles E. Delaney, Irving, Tex., assignor to Overhead Door Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Indiana Filed Jan. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 699,815

Int. Cl. F16s 27/02 U.S. Cl. 74-142 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to a ratchet-type relay device for converting one type of impulse into another and, more particularly, to a relay device capable of receiving a plurality of similar electrical impulses and converting them into a plurality of switch operations in a selected sequence.

There are many circumstances where it becomes desirable to produce or repeat a series of similar or sequential operations or movements in response to the sensing of one or several signals, whereby the operation of one type of mechanism controls the performance of another mechanism. Such a need exists, for example, in the operation of an electrically and remotely controlled garage door having a main circuit for effecting the normal opening and closing of the door, and a separate, safety circuit for effecting the emergency opening and/or clos ing the door. It is at least advantageous that the signals from these two sources of control should actuate the same control mechanism, and that the two actuations should be capable of performance without interference.

That is, it is important that the control mechanism can receive signals from at least two different sources at the same time or substantially the same time without jamming the control or damaging the door operator.

While detailed reference is made herein to a relay device particularly adapted for receiving a plurality of electrical impulses and converting them into sequential control of an electrically energized door operator, because it was from this environment that the invention developed, it will be apparent that the relay device of the invention can be used for a variety of different purposes and that it can be readily adapted for response to fluid actuated impulses, purely mechanical impulses, or various combinations of impulses. It will also be apparent that the output of the relay device can be electrically hydraulically or mechanically coupled to the apparatus which it controls.

Existing devices for receiving impulses and discharging actuations in response thereto of the character described above have not been satisfactory for applicants purposes because of their complicated and expensive structures, because of the sensitivity of their adjustment, because of their inability to receive or coordinate overlapping input impulses from two or more sources an-d/ or because of their inability to compensate for overtravel United States Patent 3,481,212 Patented Dec. 2, 1969 ice during normal operation, minor discrepancies in manufacturing tolerance or installation and/or lack of adaptability to various types of impulse media and use requirements.

By way of example, it sometimes becomes desirable to have a single sequencing output responsive to many siminr, completely independent input signals which are completely unrelated to each other. Moreover, it may be desirable to have a relay device in which relatively few input signals are converted into a plurality of output sequences. By way of example, it may be desirable to have the opening and closing of the doors controlled by a number of switches having independent actuating devices associated with the relay device. Moreover, it may be desirable to have the output of said relay operating several cams which in turn control the energization of the door actuator, the control of light switches, and the operation of a signalling device, each of which may be connected in an independent circuit and certain of which may have timing devices so that they are not always operative.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is the provision of a relay device which is capable of receiving independent and uncoordinated impulses and converting said impulses into one or more output operations capable of actuating one or more mechanisms in a predetermined manner or sequence without becoming jammed if two or more inpulses are received in a nonspecific and overlapping relationship.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a relay device, as aforsaid, which is completely mechaical in its operation, which is adapted for response to electrical, pressure fluid or purely mechanical impulses or combinations of such impulses and which is capable of converting same into operations for controlling switches, valves or purely mechanical movements.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a relay device, as aforesaid, which is readily adapted to receive multiple input impulses and perform multiple output operations, which is easily adjusted to compensate for relatively wide variations in manufacturing tolerances, which automatically compensates for overtravel, which is positive in its operation, which requires an absolute mininum of parts and maintenance and which can be easily installed, adjusted and/ or repaired by any person capable of installing an overhead door operator, for example.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will become apparent to persons familiar with relay devices upon reading the following descriptive material and examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a relay device embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of said relay device.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line IIIIII in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IVIV in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a fragment of FIGURE 2 showing a modified construction.

FIGURE 7 is a fragment of FIGURE 2 showing a further modification of said relay device.

For convenience in description, the terms upper, lower and words of similar import will have reference to the relay device as appearing in FIGURES l, 3 and 4. The words front and rear have reference to the left and right sides, respectively, of the relay device as appearing in FIGURE 3. The words inner, outer and derivatives thereof will have reference to the geometric center and particularly the shaft axis of said relay device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects and purposes of the invention, including those set forth above, have been met by providing a ratchet relay device having a frame rotatably supporting a shaft having a cam and ratchet wheel secured thereto for rotation therewith. A pair of pawl supports are rotatably supported upon the shaft adjacent the ratchet wheel and a pawl is pivotally mounted upon each pawl support and resiliently urged into engagement with said ratchet wheel. Both pawls are arranged for effecting unidirectional rotation of the ratchet wheel in the same direction and the two pawl supports are connected by resilient linkage to a pair of solenoids for effecting said unidirectional rotation of said pawl supports. The cam is engaged by one or more switch operators for opening and closing associated switches in a predetermined sequence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The relay device 10, a preferred embodiment of which is disclosed in FIGURES 1 and 2, is comprised of a rigid frame 11 having a pair of sidewalls 12 and 13 and a bottom wall 14 with a central opening 16 therethrough.

A shaft 17 (FIGURE 3) is rotatably supported within bearings 18 and 19 which extend through aligned openings 22 and 23 in the sidewalls 12 and 13, respectively. A locking collar 24 is firmly secured to the rear end of the shaft 17 by a set screw 26, and a substantially circular cam 27 is firmly secured to the front end of the shaft 17 by a set screw 28. A ratchet wheel 31 is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 17, preferably midway between the sidewalls 12 and 13. The ratchet wheel 31 has a plurality of substantially conventional teeth 32, one corresponding side of each tooth being approximately radially disposed.

A pair of pawl supports 33 and 34 (FIGURE 2) are comprised of substantially identical, rigid plates 36 and 37, respectively, secured to and supported by hubs 38 and 39, respectively, which are rotatably supported upon the shaft 17 on opposite sides of the ratchet Wheel 31.

A pawl 42 (FIGURE 4) is pivotally supported by the m 43 on the inner side of the plate 36 for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 31 near the upper side thereof. The pawl 42 is resiliently urged into an engaged position with the ratchet wheel 31 by a spiral spring 44 which is held under tension between an ear 46 on the pawl 42 and an car 47 on the pawl support 33.

The teeth 32 on the ratchet Wheel 31 are arranged so that rotation of the pawl support 33 (FIGURE 4) in a counterclockwise direction operates through the pawl 42 mounted thereon to effect a counterclockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel 31, hence, the shaft 17 secured thereto. A spiral spring 48 is connected to and held under tension between a bracket 51, secured to the bottom wall 14, and

an integral, downwardly projecting arm 52 on the pawl support 33, whereby said pawl support is urged to rotate in a clockwise direction as appearing in FIGURE 4.

The arm 52 (FIGURE 3) extends downwardly through the opening 16 in the bottom wall 14. A U-shaped adjustment plate 53 has a substantially rectangular recess 54 which is defined by end edges 56 and 57 (FIGURE 4). The adjustment plate 53 has a pair of lengthwise slots 58 and 59 through which the screws 62 and 63 are slideably received for engagement with the bottom wall 14 whereby the position of the edge 57 of the plate 53 can be adjusted lengthwise of the bottom wall 14 so that it will engage the edge 64 of the arm 52 when it is in its broken line position 64A of FIGURE 4. The angular distance between the edges 64 and 64A is preferably slightly more than the angular pitch of the teeth 32. Thus, after a full rotational movement of the wheel 31 by the pawl support 33 the pawl 42 can drop behind the next tooth at the end of its return movement.

A solenoid 66 is mounted upon the rear wall 12 (FIG- URE 4) at the left end thereof so that the movable core 67 is substantially horizontal and approximately aligned with a pin 73 extending from the pawl support 33 above the shaft 17. The core 67 has a yoke 68 secured to its outer end and connected by a cotter key 69 to one end of a spring element 72 having a tension-absorbing loop 74 between the ends thereof. The other end of the element 72 is mounted upon the pin 73 which extends rearwardly from the support 33. Acocrdingly, if the core 67 overtravels during normal operation of the solenoid 66 beyond the point where it causes the edge 64 of arm 52 to engage the plate 53, such overtravel will be resiliently absorbed by the loop 74 in the spring element 72.

The pawl support 34 (FIGURE 5) has a pawl 42A pivotally supported thereon by the pin 43A which is held against the ratchet wheel 31 by a spring 44A. A spring 48A extends between the arm 52A and the bracket 51 to oppose clockwise rotation of the pawl support 34 into the broken line position thereof shown in FIGURE 5, wherein the edge 64B of the arm 52A engages the edge 57A of the adjustment plate 53A. The core 67A of the solenoid 66A, which is mounted upon the right end of the bottom wall 14, is connected by a spring element 72A to a pin 73A on the arm 52A below the shaft 17. Accordingly, operation of the solenoid 66A effects a rightward movement of the core 67A whereby the shaft 17 is rotated in the same direction as it is rotated by a corresponding leftward operation of the solenoid 66. While the shaft 17, hence the ratchet wheel 31, is being rotated by one of the pawls 42 or 42A, the other of said pawls will ride up over the tooth engaged thereby and thereafter be urged back into engagement with the next tooth by the corresponding spring 44 or 44A.

By increasing the distance tbetween the sidewalls 12 and 13, additional solenoids, additional pawl supports and their related parts can be mounted within the frame 11 for actuation of additional ratchet wheels mounted upon the shaft 17, if desired.

The cam 27 (FIGURE 1) has one or more recesses 75 in its circumferential surface into which one end of the switch actuator 76 is received. The switch actuator 76 is mounted upon the switch 77 so that it extends across and normally holds the switch button 78 in the depressed position, wherein the switch 77 may be held open. Thus, when the free end of the actuator 76 drops into a recess 75, the switch 77 is closed. Clearly, the recesses 75 could be replaced by small projections and the closed position of the switch 77 could be achieved by the resultant pressing of the button 78 into the switch. Also, the switch could be normally closed.

A second switch 77A may be mounted upon the front wall 13 so that its actuator 76A is engaged with the cam 27. The terminals 79 and 79A on the switches 77 and 77A, respectively, are electrically connected to Conductors in a conventional manner for conventional purposes.

OPERATION Persons skilled in the art will be able to determine the operation of the invention from the foregoing description and the drawings. However, for convenience, the operation will be summarized.

With the solenoids 66 and 66A electrically connected to a source of an electrical impulse, such as a source of electrical potential in series with a normally open switch, closure of the switch will effect an operation of the solenoid 66, for example, whereby the core 67 is moved leftwardly (FIGURE 4) and, accordingly, the pawl support 33 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction around the shaft 17. Accordingly, the pawl 42 'will cause the ratchet wheel 31 to rotate a corresponding distance and, thereby, simultaneously rotate the cam 27 Normally, the angular movement of the ratchet Wheel 31 will be slightly in excess of the angular pitch of a tooth 32. Accordingly, as the pawl 42 is turning the ratchet wheel 31 and shaft 17, the pawl 42A will ride up over the corresponding tooth on the opposite side of the ratchet wheel and then drop into the detent position on the opposite side of such tooth, thereby holding the ratchet wheel 31 in its advanced position as the pawl support 33 and its attached pawl 42 are returned to their solid line positions of FIGURE 4.

After the solenoid 66 is de-energized, so that the pawl support 33 can return to its solid line position of FIG- URE 4, the spring 48 will hold the pawl 42 snugly against the radial side of the next tooth thusly engaged so that the ratchet wheel and shaft will normally be rotated in equal angular increments.

In this particular embodiment, there are 12 similar teeth on the ratchet wheel 31. Accordingly, each movement of one of the pawl supports 33 and 34 by the corresponding solenoids 66 and 66A will effect a 30 degree rotational movement of the ratchet wheel 31, as well as the shaft 17 and cam 27.

If, during a rotational movement of the ratchet wheel 31, hence the cam 27, the end of one of the switch actuators 76 and 76A drops into a recess 75, its corresponding switch will be closed and thereby energize a circuit through the corresponding switch.

In one particular embodiment of the invention, this relay device and its associated switches 77 and 77A are connected to the operator of an overhead door and the circuits connected to the solenoids 66 and A are in series respectively with the switch or switches which control normal operation of the door and the safety switch or switches which effect emergency operation of the door, for example.

In a manner as described above with respect to the pawl support 33 and associated elements, the pawl support 34 can also be operated to eifect a similar rotation of the cam 27. Since the pawl supports 33 and 34 are entirely independent of each other, overlapping operations of the solenoids 66 and 66A will not adversely affeet the performance of the relay device 10.

One or both of the solenoids 66 and 66A (FIGURE 2) can be replaced by a pressure fiuid operated device 85 or a purely mechanical device (not shown), and the switches 77 and 77A can likewise be replaced by valves or other means responsive to the rotation of the cam 27, or some other rotating member mounted on the shaft 17, while maintaining the essential performance of operation of the relay device. Moreover, as shown in FIG- URE 7, additional cams 86 can be mounted upon the shaft 17 outboard of the cam 27.

In another application of the invention relating to operating devices for residential garage doors, an additional ratchet wheel solenoid and the associated springs, pawl arm, pawl and the like could be arranged so that the door would be started or stopped by one coil in series with the pushbutton of the main circuit, as discussed above. The motor shut off would be effected by the door limit switches-through another coil, and the third coil would be actuated by the safety switch such that the cam would not be indexed once but twice. Thus, when the safety switch was actuated, the door would not stop, as in the case discussed above, but would index two positions and cause the door to reverse to the full open position. In other applications, the third coil could be programmed by the relay itself depending upon the coils which would be required to obtain a certain safety sensing system or override control action.

By appropriate rearrangement of the solenoids and arm return springs, the relay device could be modified so that the cam would be indexed upon the release or deenergization of the solenoids, rather than by the actuation of the solenoids, as described above.

Thus, although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations or modifications of such disclosure, which come within the scope of the appended claims, are fully contemplated.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property of privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A relay device for converting one mechanical movement into another, comprising:

frame means;

shaft means rotatably supported upon said frame means;

toothed wheel means secured upon and rotatable with said shaft means;

pawl support means rotatably mounted upon said shaft means near said wheel means;

pawl means pivotally mounted upon said support means and adapted to positively oppose rotation thereof in one rotational direction; first actuating means supported upon said frame means and including a movable driving member operatively connected to said pawl support means for causing pivotal movement thereof in the other rotational direction; resiliently yieldable linkage means drivingly connected between said pawl support means and said driving member whereby operation of said first actuating means effects pivotal movement of said pawl support means in said other rotational direction;

resilient means yieldably resisting said pivotal movement of said pawl support means; and

second actuating means responsive to rotation of said shaft means.

2. A relay device according to claim 1, wherein said first actuating means is a fluid-actuated power cylinder and said driving member comprises the power cylinder piston rod; and

wherein said second actuating means comprises a cam and an associated valve operator.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first actuating means is a solenoid and said driving member comprises the armature of said solenoid; and

wherein said second actuating means includes a substantially circular cam means having an irregular circumferential surface, and electrical switch means operated by said cam means.

4. A device according to claim 3, including stop means adjustably secured to said frame means for limiting said rotational movement of said pawl support means in said other direction.

5. A relay device for converting one mechanical movement into another, comprising:

frame means;

shaft means rotatably supported upon said frame means;

toothed wheel means secured upon and rotatable with said shaft means;

pawl support means rotatably mounted upon said shaft means near said wheel means;

pawl means pivotally mounted upon said support means and adapted to positively oppose rotation thereof in one rotational direction;

first actuating means supported upon said frame means;

yieldable linkage means connected between said pawl support means and said first actuating means whereby operation of said first actuating means effects pivotal movement of said pawl support means in the other rotational direction;

resilient means yieldably resisting said pivotal movement of said pawl support means;

second actuating means responsive to rotation of said shaft means;

second pawl support means rotatably supported upon said shaft means and pivotally supporting a second pawl means engaging said wheel means; and

third actuating means similar to said first actuating means and connected by yieldable means to said second pawl support means for effecting rotary movement thereof in said other rotational direction.

6. A relay device according to claim 5, wherein said first and second pawl support means and their associated pawl means and actuating means are adapted for independent and overlapping operation.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said resiliently yieldable linkage means includes second resilient means operably interconnected between said movable driving member and said pawl support means for permitting movement therebetween.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said second resilient means comprises a spring member connected at its opposite ends to said driving member and said pawl support means, respectively, said spring member constituting the sole driving connection between said movable driving member and said pawl support means.

9. A mechanical device, comprising:

frame means;

shaft means rotatably supported upon said frame means;

a toothed ratchet wheel secured upon and rotatable with said shaft means;

a pawl support member rotatably mounted upon said shaft means and positioned adjacent said ratchet Wheel;

a pawl pivotally mounted upon said support member and having a portion thereof adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel;

first resilient means coacting with said pawl for normally urging said portion thereof into engagement with the teeth of said ratchet wheel for normally positively opposing rotation of said ratchet wheel in one rotational direction;

second resilient means yieldably resisting pivotable movement of said pawl support member in said one rotational direction;

actuating means mounted on said frame means and operably interconnected to said pawl support member for causing pivotal movement thereof in the other rotational direction which in turn causes rotational movement of said ratchet wheel in said other rotational direction, said actuating means including a reciprocable driving member and means adapted to linearly move said driving member in at least one direction; third resilient means drivingly connected between said driving member and said pawl support member for transmitting therethrough driving force from said driving member to said pawl support member while also permitting relative movement therebetween; and

holding means coacting with said ratchet wheel for preventing rotation thereof insaid One rotational direction after same has 'been advanced in said other rotational direction by said pawl.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said third resilient means comprises a spring member having one end thereof connected to said driving member and the other end thereof connected to said pawl support member, said spring member comprising the sole driving connection between said driving member and said pawl support member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,874,100 8/1932 Hanel 74-142 2,488,766 11/1949 De Moss 74-142 3,058,362 10/1962 Perez 74-142 2,784,276 3/1957 Pearson 74-142 2,795,396 6/1957 Davidson 74-142 FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Primary Examiner W. S. RATLIFF, JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 74-575, 577 

